“Our review indicates that, even following significant reforms, payment-plan policies in place across Virginia are not designed to take into account people’s individual financial circumstances, resulting in unrealistic and unaffordable payment plans that often lead to default,” the study said. “Of the 116 policies we examined, not one gives any indication of how it evaluates ability to pay, and correspondingly, the inability to pay.”

Pat Levy-Lavelle, an attorney at the Legal Aid Justice Center, said payment plans are “just part of the puzzle.” He urged Virginia to follow states such as California, which has ended the practice of suspending licenses for unpaid fines.

PHILANTHROPY | The Greater Washington Community Foundation will celebrate its 45th anniversary on March 12th and it will be awarding the 2018 Civic Spirit Award to Carol Thompson Cole, president and CEO of Venture Philanthropy Partners. Read more here